Pembrey Country Park, in Carmarthenshire, has won a green flag award for the second year running.
The park has been awarded the international symbol for its excellent visitor facilities, high environmental standards, and commitment to delivering great quality green space.
To be awarded, the park has to meet international standards in key areas, including being welcome, healthy, safe and secure; being well maintained and clean, with well-managed environment and biodiversity; involving the community in maintaining the landscape and heritage of the park; as well as management, marketing and communication.
The Green Flag Award programme is delivered in Wales by environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy, with support from Welsh Government and is an indication of a world class visiting experience for local people and visitors to Carmarthenshire.
It is judged by green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including biodiversity, cleanliness, environmental management and community involvement.
During the pandemic, green spaces became invaluable as a place of solace and connection for many living in built up areas or confined inside for most of the day. A fact noted by Lucy Prisk, Green Flag coordinator at Keep Wales Tidy,
“The pandemic has shown just how important high-quality parks and green spaces are to our communities. For many of us, they have been a haven on our doorstep, benefitting our health and well-being.”
Mental health charity Mind state,
“Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing.”
Pembrey Country Park is one of Wales’s Top Visitor attractions providing a unique blend of coast and countryside. Set inside 500 acres of woodland and alongside eight miles of golden sands, it also offers a dry ski slope, toboggan ride, crazy golf, train rides, adventure play area, and a variety of nature trails to explore.
Cllr Hughes-Griffiths said,
“Pembrey Country Park is a jewel in Carmarthenshire’s crown and winning the Green Flag for the second-year running is testament to the hard work of staff who maintain these areas, this year in particular where they have had to work under very challenging times throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
At a time when more and more people are choosing to holiday at home, the award is a symbol of quality that can be depended on when looking for potential places to visit.”
With further lockdowns and restricted activity on the cards for many locations in Wales, spaces such as these will prove a lifeline to many seeking to clear their mind and embrace the fresh air and outdoors.
Find out more about this 500 acres of glorious parkland on the Pembrey Country Park website.
